How to install frame connectors

[needsaresto]

There is a thread over at forabodiesonly that Im a bit confused by. Someone wanted to know the correct way to install frame connectors. Some say just weld em in,others say the car must be on its supension,yet other claim it must be supported by jackstands on its frame sections and level.

One person made a comment that made the mopst sense to me. They got a frame dimension sheet,made sure the car was square by measuring,then welded the car to a jig and then welded in the connectors.

What do you guys think?

[mopowers]

No matter how its done, as long as the doors line up, before, during, and after, you're fine.

I've seen it done every which way with good results.

[west]

No matter how its done, as long as the doors line up, before, during, and after, you're fine.

I've seen it done every which way with good results.

bout it.you aren't building a suspension,just bracing whats there.

[bbscamp]

We just welded in ours on the 73 Dart Sport.  The car was a shell on a rotisserie, upside down!    That was about as unloaded as possible!  There is so much adustiment between the door latches, hinges, fenders and the glass.  Its pretty much hard to weld it up wrong.  However, I will say that the car does flex.

I've seen plenty of mopars that you could not open the doors when the car was on a a frame lift, but they worked fine on the ground.  Any way you weld it, it can be corrected for IMHO.
If just a matter if you want to adjust things or not.  If you don't want to make adjustments.  Sit it on the wheels with everything aligned, and weld it that way.

[Jim_Lusk]

I've had my Barracuda supported at the front bumper mounts and front spring perches for over a year. The door strikers have also been removed. There has been no change in the door gaps. The car is stripped, however.

[loiq]

I love those threads where guys argue about stuff like how your car should be placed when welding in frame connectors. People waay overthink this stuff.

[needsaresto]

K,so it dont really matter. That works for me!

[gt]

Put the car on safety stands as level as possible under the frame at the front and the rear just before it goes up over the diff and weld the F-ers in.
Just did this on my son's car as well as the inboard boxes.

gt

[robx4406]

These cars flex and sag so bad after 40 years, they're worse than my ex's beagle ear titties.       Maybe not.

I put mine on jackstands at rear axles and roll up lift deals for the front wheels. I jacked the connectors up against the floor pan, the doors got easier to open/close.  I found a spot they worked well, and blazed them in.

Like Mike said, I've seen connectors welded into cars on rotisseries while hanging sideways! I don't drive often oriented that way... at least not since I've been sober!   

[Alexandre_Garcia]

I have installed them in a bunch of cars, different situations, different ways, on stands, on the ground working under it in a kind of a place used to inspect trucks, on elevators, and it always worked out fine. It is the type of thing that is so simple people cannot believe.

[ValiantOne]

I talked to the guy that is building the nice sheetmetal fitted connectors (USA Auto or something like that??) and he said that if the doors open and close fine, lift the car and support from the frame rails and see what happens. If the door alignment doesn't change than you can weld 'em in either way.

in fact he recommended using an alignment rack so the car could sit on all fours while welding them in.

[needsaresto]

Well seeing as I dont have access to an alignmet rack,I'll use what I have. Probably drive the car up on ramps for the front tires and then jackstands for the rear axle. Then break out the leves and shim it till its right. I have a 110 volt Lincoln that works very nice and should do the job.

[B.B.D.of Corpus.]

muffler shops are a good place to go cuz the car can be lifted on the rack and the muffler shops dont charge much to weld them in

[mopardude318]

i leveled my car on jack stands, it has no front or rear suspension...once it was all leveled, i took many measurements, cut the floors, and put one side in at a time....will post pics soon...

[Dan-o]

Hotchkis instructions were with car on its tires.

[needsaresto]

muffler shops are a good place to go cuz the car can be lifted on the rack and the muffler shops dont charge much to weld them in

I have a decent Lincoln welder and know how to use it too! A rack would be nice though. No lying on your back whilst a shower of sparks cascades down upon your head...

[Darius]

I had my doors on and lined up, then I set the car on adjustable jack stands and leveled it front to back from the door sills and side to side from the door sills. Probably overkill but I ahd everything there from rebuilding the entire car anyway so why not? I tacked them in that way then raised the rotisserie and finishe welding them. When I got my alterktion and 4 link in and it became a roller, I drew lines at all the joints before setting it on the floor on its own weight and NBOTHING moved even a fraction. Here is a pic of the in place....yes, it's a B Body

[coors00]

muffler shops are a good place to go cuz the car can be lifted on the rack and the muffler shops dont charge much to weld them in

I have a decent Lincoln welder and know how to use it too! A rack would be nice though. No lying on your back whilst a shower of sparks cascades down upon your head...

Move the tip closer to the work, turn down the feed.

[1967FastBack]

What kind of welder do you need to weld in frame connectors?

[coors00]

A mig is nice, and cheap.